Bell Sound Effects

In the Avosound Online Sound Archive you will find a great selection of bell sounds and ringing bells and bell sound effects. The choices include bicycle bells, door bells, cow bell sound effects and sleigh bells, tubular bells, bell plates, and, of course, church bells.

Bell sounds are an everyday sound around the world -- and we often don't even notice them anymore because they are so commonplace (unless you live next door to a church, that is).

But bells are not only found in churches, they traditionally have also been serving other purposes (e.g. signalling and alarms). Maybe bells have been popular throughout the centuries because they are incredibly practical and yet so simple to use.

Bell Sounds - A History

According to archeological discoveries in China, bells date back roughly 3,000 BCE. These ancient bells were made from ceramics and pre-date the cast bells and the ones made of brass. It is said that even the Egyptians used to make metal bells and hang them from ropes in the towers. The sound of these bell plates could be heard many miles away, which made them ideal as alarm signals.

Bells Sounds - Made In China

The high quality of the metal bells hints at considerable metallurgical know-how in the 15th century BCE during the Chinese bronze age. Even back then, bells were cast with a very specific pitch in mind. In China they were used for ceremonial purposes, rituals and ceremonies of state. These bells also found use in temples and shrines outside of China, where they can still be found in great abundance.

Bells in the Temple

Bell sounds find frequent use in buddhist temples. Buddhist temples and monasteries often feature quite a number of standing or hanging brass and metal bells of considerable size that are struck with a wooden bar. Depending on the size of the location, you can find lots of smaller bells or sleigh bells ringing in the wind in stupas or at the top of temples.

Even today these bell sounds and noises can be heard in Myanmar's monasteries.

Bell Sounds - Metal Bells

In the western world, bell sound have traditionally had a strong symbolic connection to the church. To make their sound heard across many miles, the bells were hung in high towers. The mightier the building, the bigger the size of the bells. And the bigger the bell, the deeper its sound. These bells - several feet high and weighing tons - would then be hung in gigantic cathedral spires where they remain to this day, making their unique sound heard across the lands.

Bells were also mounted to public buildings to announce the time. Bells will either ring the time every quarter of an hour or every hour.

Bell Sounds - Church Bells

The sound of church bells differs depending on the size and architecture of the church. Monasteries, for example, tend to use smaller bells, while churches are a little more ostentatious about their oversized bells. Bells can sound individually, in groups, or all together.

In this context, bells have a ceremonial character as well. For festivities, all bells will usually ring at the same time. Sombre occasions might just require the sound of the deepest bell.

Bell Sounds in the Middle Ages

Apart from their religious connotations, bells were used in the middle ages to alert the people and the authorities. The striking of the bell(s) is used to announce the time to this day (much to the annoyance of many neighbours). Some of the more impressive bell towers even featured a glockenspiel––which made them known around the country. Alarm bells would ring whenever there was an attack or a fire. Those banished from the city or village could count themselves lucky if the only thing chasing them was the sound of the shame bell. Because the blood bells would announce an unkindly verdict from the worldly court in town.

Alarm Bells

As bells became easier to manufacture, cities were equipped with bells announcing alarms and storms. Before the constant cacophony of the industrial age, you could still the night porter's bell throughout the city. Bells announcing alarms and storms were equally prominent and their sound would carry from one end of the city to the other. The great benefit of bells was the amount of people you could reach in a short time and without much effort.

Bicycle Bells

To this day, bells play a significant role in our society: bells and sleigh bells can be found on ships; they were used on trains and streetcars before the invention of electrical or pressurised air horns; and, of course, they can be found on almost every bicycle.

	Filename	Description	info	Channels	Duration	ShortID	Category	Subcategory
1	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Va.wav	Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Quarter Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
2	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Bc.wav	Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Clock
3	Tones-BongsGongs-Gong-Int_2.wav	Tones - Bongs Gongs - Gong - Int - CU - Large, Metal, Hard Hits W Ring, Metal Sqeaks And Creaks On Swing Back And Forth	i	2.0	0:49	Bell	Gong Metal
4	ChurchesGermany.BBC.EC46Db.wav	Bell, Church: St. Michael"s Church, Hamburg, Bell Ringing Starts And Builds Up.	i	2.0	2:16	Bell	Bell Church
5	NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pb.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 2 O"clock St. Mary"s Church	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell Clock
6	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ge.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
7	Cowbell,Hit,Door,Bounce.wav	Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Hit Door Dull	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Cowbell
8	Tones-ChurchBellsFromNear_2.wav	Tones - Church Bells From Nearby Street - Ext - Distant City Traffic Wash, Bells From Second Church Audible Os, Some Pedestrian Movement, Coughs And Light Walla, Light Footsteps, Some Mic Bumps	i	2.0	1:51	Bell	Bell Church
9	CathedralsWinch.BBC.EC91F.wav	Bell, Church: Winchester Cathedral Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	3:01	Bell	Bell Church
10	EFX INT Bell A 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Large Metal Bell, Ring Bell, Heavy Ding And Long Decay, Close	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell
11	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ab.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
12	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ck.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 8 O"clock	i	2.0	1:20	Bell	Bell Clock
13	EFX INT Prayer Bowl 10.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Prayer Bowl Ring Tone	i	2.0	2:00	Bell	Bell
14	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Db.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:43	Bell	Bell Clock
15	Bell,Hand,Dull,Ring,Medium,Uncertain,Accel,x3,Some faint birds BG.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell, Hand, Dull, Ring, Medium, Uncertain, Accel, X3, Some Faint Birds BG	i	1.0	0:42	Bell	Bell Hand
16	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qd.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:44	Bell	Bell Clock
17	Bells,Fairy,Gliss,Appear.wav	Bell: Bells Fairy Gliss Appear	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell
18	Bells,Small,Door,Jingle,High.wav	Bell: Bells Small Door Jingle High	i	1.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Jingle
19	BellDeskHand_S08FO.121.wav	Foley, Bell, Desk, Hand, Small	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell
20	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Cc.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:11	Bell	Bell Clock
21	Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_7.wav	Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Brass
22	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36La.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:29	Bell	Bell Clock
23	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ca.wav	Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
24	ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC91Hb.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Firing The Bells. (St. Clement Dane"s Church, The Strand, London.)	i	2.0	3:00	Bell	Bell Church
25	Bell,Hand,Brass,Languid.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Brass Languid	i	1.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Hand
26	BellsSleigh.BBC.EC25Db.wav	Bell, Sleigh: Sleigh Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	1:06	Bell	Bell Sleigh
27	ClockWhitchurch.BBC.EC105Vc.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 3 O"clock. (St. John The Evangelist)	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
28	ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC2B9b.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: Incomplete Cambridge Surprise Maximus, St. Sepulchre"s Church, High Holborn, Known As "bells Of Old Bailey"	i	2.0	4:49	Bell	Bell Church
29	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Stern.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Stern	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
30	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,5,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 5 Slow	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
31	BellsSchools.BBC.ECD32.wav	School, Ambience: Greece: School Playground, Very Noisy With Children Shouting And Playing, Distant Traffic, Bell Rings And They Go In.	i	2.0	2:14	Bell	Bell School	School Ambience
32	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Te.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Five O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Clock
33	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ng.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
34	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_6.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 4 O"clock	i	2.0	0:49	Bell	Bell Church
35	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD90a.wav	Bell, Cathedral: St. Paul"s Cathedral Bells, Pealing, With Distant Traffic - 1972 (2B1, Reprocessed)	i	2.0	5:00	Bell	Bell Cathedral
36	Bell,Bicycle,Rings,Messy1.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Rings Messy1	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Bicycle
37	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Doppler5.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Doppler5	i	2.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Bicycle
38	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bb.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:55	Bell	Bell Clock
39	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Dd.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
40	Bell,Door,Ring,Ding,Dong,Fast.wav	Bell, Door: Bell Door Ring Ding Dong Fast	i	2.0	0:01	Bell	Bell Door
41	Tones-Bells-GasStationBel_1.wav	Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - CU - Single Ding	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Gas Station
42	Bells,Sleigh,Light,Jingley.wav	Bell: Bells Sleigh Light Jingley	i	1.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Jingle
43	Sleigh,Bells,Clunky,Long.wav	Bell: Sleigh Bells Clunky Long	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell
44	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ci.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
45	Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_2.wav	Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell Brass
46	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Lg.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell Clock
47	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ck.wav	Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:40	Bell	Bell Clock
48	BellsPembroke.BBC.EC91P.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells Ringing. (St. Mary The Virgin"s Church, Pembroke, Pembrokeshire.)	i	2.0	3:03	Bell	Bell Church
49	Bells,Noon,Prague,Crowd,2.wav	Bell: Bells Noon Prague Crowd 2	i	2.0	0:25	Bell	Bell
50	ShipsBells.BBC.EC121Db.wav	Bell, Ship: Telegraph Bell Signals. Ahead.	i	2.0	1:10	Bell	Bell Ship
51	ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wl.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 12 O"clock. (All Saints Church)	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Clock
52	BellsPre-Reform.BBC.EC2B7a.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: 5 Bells, At Random, Pre-Reformation Style, From Interior, St. Mary And St. Andrew"s, Whittlesford, Cambs.	i	2.0	3:29	Bell	Bell Church
53	Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Light.wav	Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Light	i	1.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Hand
54	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,4,Detune2.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 4 Detune2	i	2.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Bicycle
55	SchoolsBells.BBC.ECD94b.wav	Crowd, School: Electric School Bell - 1980 (3C9, Reprocessed)	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell School
56	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ei.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:30	Bell	Bell Clock
57	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Yb.wav	Bell, Clock: Lantern Clock Striking Two O"clock. (Domestic Lantern Clock, Manufactured 1615.)	i	2.0	0:11	Bell	Bell Clock
58	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC1_11.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 10 O"clock	i	2.0	1:08	Bell	Bell Church
59	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD68b.wav	Bell, Cathedral: Odense Cathedral Bells Carillon	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Cathedral
60	Bell,Bicycle,Rings,Loose,Fast.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Rings Loose Fast	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Bicycle
61	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Dist,Med.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Dist Med	i	2.0	0:02	Bell	Bell Bicycle
62	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ad.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:30	Bell	Bell Clock
63	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ec.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:50	Bell	Bell Clock
64	Bell,Church,Toll,Ding-Ding.wav	Bell: Bell Church Toll Ding-Ding	i	1.0	1:36	Bell	Bell Church
65	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_9.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Triple Ring	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Door
66	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Vh.wav	Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:44	Bell	Bell Clock
67	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Bi.wav	Bell, Clock: Tompion And Banger Household Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Clock
68	Tones-BicycleBell-4High-P_4.wav	Tones - Bicycle Bell - 4 High-Pitched Rings, Last One Is Flanged	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell Bicycle
69	ChurchesFrance.BBC.ECD50b.wav	Bell, Church: St. Marie Church Bells, Church Clock Strikes 12	i	2.0	0:40	Bell	Bell Church
70	NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pk.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 11 O"clock St. Mary"s Church	i	2.0	0:41	Bell	Bell Clock
71	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Gj.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:28	Bell	Bell Clock
72	Bell,School,Ring,Voices,Dist.wav	Bell, School: Bell School Ring Voices Dist	i	2.0	0:06	Bell	Bell School
73	Tones-ChurchBells-St.HavelC.wav	Tones - Church Bells - St. Havel Church - C U - 2 Bells Constant (Simultaneous Hits), Calling Mass	i	2.0	1:49	Bell	Bell Church
74	ChurchHorsmonden.BBC.EC91Cb.wav	Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Single Bell Tolling. (St. Margaret"s Church, Horsmonden, Kent.)	i	2.0	2:58	Bell	Bell Church
75	EFX INT Ice Cream Bell 01.wav	Bell: Bell, Interior, Ice Cream Truck, Buzzing, Electric Metal Bell, Very Mechanic	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell
76	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Af.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
77	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Cf.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 3 O"clock	i	2.0	0:52	Bell	Bell Clock
78	EFX INT Broken Bell 04.wav	Bell: House, Interior, Broken Door Bell, Ding, Electric Buzz, Dead Dong	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell
79	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Rh.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Striking Two O"clock. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell Clock
80	Bell,Church,Old,Iron,2 Meter,Hit,Hammer,x4.wav	Bell, Church: Bell, Church, Old, Iron, 2 Meter, Hit, Hammer, X4	i	1.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Church
81	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Rc.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	1:08	Bell	Bell Clock
82	Bells,Carillon,Song,Sample.wav	Bell: Bells Carillon Song Sample	i	2.0	1:33	Bell	Bell
83	Bells.BBC.EC1003Ac.wav	Bell, Church: Fourteen Cwt. Bell Ringing.	i	2.0	2:22	Bell	Bell Church
84	BicyclesBells.BBC.ECD5.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bicycle, 1936 Raleigh Sports Model, Passing With Bell From Left To Right.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Bicycle
85	Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,Sloppy.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose Sloppy	i	1.0	0:05	Bell	Bell Bicycle
86	Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,5,Slow.wav	Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle 5 Slow	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Bicycle
87	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bc.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:57	Bell	Bell Clock
88	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC2C9a.wav	Bell, Church: Large Crowd: Outside St. Paul"s Cathedral, Mid-distant Perspective Recording, Wedding Of H.R.H. Prince Of Wales.	i	2.0	6:33	Bell	Bell Church
89	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qk.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Chimes And 8 O"clock SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	0:58	Bell	Bell Clock
90	Bell,Brass,Rings,5X,Low,Clang.wav	Bell: Bell Brass Rings 5X Low Clang	i	1.0	0:04	Bell	Bell
91	Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_4.wav	Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Single Ring	i	2.0	0:04	Bell	Bell Door
92	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104f.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College, Oxford - 1/2 Hour	i	2.0	0:29	Bell	Bell Clock
93	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104d.wav	Bell, Clock: Tom, Christ Church, Oxford - Strikes 12 (interior Perspective)	i	2.0	1:22	Bell	Bell Clock
94	Bell,Sleigh,Triple Ring.wav	Bell: Bell Sleigh Triple Ring	i	2.0	0:03	Bell	Bell
95	Tones-BicycleBell-2High-P_6.wav	Tones - Bicycle Bell - 2 High-Pitched Rings, Quick, 3x	i	2.0	0:07	Bell	Bell Bicycle
96	Abbeys.BBC.EC91Md.wav	Bell, Church: St. Albans Abbey Bells, Erin Cinques Ringing, Bells Stop.	i	2.0	3:19	Bell	Bell Church
97	ClockGranborough.BBC.EC10_9.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 10 O"clock	i	2.0	0:24	Bell	Bell Clock
98	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Gb.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:08	Bell	Bell Clock
99	Bell,Church,St James,Clear,1.wav	Bell: Bell Church St James Clear 1	i	2.0	0:34	Bell	Bell Church
100	Tones-ChurchBells-MoscowOrt.wav	Tones - Church Bells - Moscow Orthodox Church - MCU - 4 Tones Bells For Mass, One Bell Starts Then All Four Begin, Nice Resonant Ringout After Bells Stop	i	2.0	2:07	Bell	Bell Church